Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky invited Pope Francis on Tuesday to act as a mediator in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, which launched a war against its neighbor at the end of February.
“We would appreciate the role of mediator of the Holy See to end human suffering” in Ukraine, Zelensky tweeted after a telephone conversation with the pope, after the Kremlin judged that current talks with kyiv were not “substantial” enough.
The Ukrainian president stated that he had informed “Your Holiness of the difficult humanitarian situation and the blockade of humanitarian corridors by Russian troops”and thanked the “prayers for Ukraine and peace” officiated by the pope.
Zelensky asked the pope “to come to our country at this very important moment,” in a video released Tuesday night. “I believe that we can organize this important visit that provides significant support to each of us, to each Ukrainian.”
Since the Russian offensive in Ukraine began, which has left thousands dead, especially civilians, Pope Francis has reiterated calls for peace.
In a public prayer on March 16, he asked God for forgiveness on behalf of the humans who “continue to drink the blood of the dead torn apart by weapons.”
Ukraine, a mostly Orthodox country, has a significant Greek-Catholic minority dependent on the Vatican, concentrated mainly in the west of the country.
This Eastern Rite Catholic confession, which is the third Church in Ukraine, claims to have 5.5 million followers in the former Soviet republic, which before the war had about 40 million inhabitants.
About 9% of Ukrainians claim to belong to this Church, while 58% claim to be part of the independent Orthodox Church and 25%, of the Moscow Patriarchate, according to a 2021 survey.
